Improvement in egg-carriers



J. L. STEVENS. Egg-Carrier.

No. 213,850. Patented April 1,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BILLINGS, COBURN 86CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EGG-CARRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,550, dated April 1,1879; application filed February 15, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J onn L. STEVENS, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inEgg-Carriers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact. description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which-- Figure 1 represents a top or plan view ofa bottomless tray embodying my invention; and Figs. 2 and 3 representside elevations of the outer and inner strips or partitions,respectively.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention relates to that class of eggcarriers in which are employeda series of trays, each formed of a series of bottomless compartments orpockets and separating diaphragms; andmy invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of the partitionstrips, as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the trays as usually constructed, by the interlocking of thepartition-strips, the strips are liable to be pulled apart upon liftingthe tray from the box or case; and the object of my invention is toobviate this objection by securely interlocking the strips, so that theywill not pull apart with ordinary handling or usage.

In the drawings, A represents an inner strip or partition, preferably ofstraw-board but it may be made of any suitable material and cut intostrips of the proper dimensions. These strips are provided with a seriesof notches or slots, a, cut into the upper edge thereof, and atrightangles therewith, and extending downward to a depth of about one-half ofthe width of the strip. Both ends of the strips are narrowed or cut awayin such a manner as to form a tongue, I), provided with notches c c c c,as shown.

B represents one of the outer strips or partitions, in length and widthcorresponding with the strips A, and it is provided with a series ofslots or perforations, a, formed wholly within the body of the strip,the upper ends of which terminate at obtuse angles and form shoulders a"a a, as shown. The straight or vertical portion of these slots a is inlength slightly greater than the distance between the inner ends of thenotches c 0, respectively, in one of the tongues b. The width of thetongues b is slightly less than the full length of slots at, One end ofthe strips B is narrowed or cut away in a similar manner as the ends ofstrips A, and so as to form tongue b and notches c c.

In constructing the tray or series of bottomless pockets, a series ofstrips, A, are arranged vertically and parallel to each other, when acorresponding number are inverted and arranged at right anglestherewith, and interlocked by means of slots at, and so that theirrespective edges are in the same plane and flush with each other. Theoutside strips, B, are then united or interlocked with each other, andwith the projecting ends of the inner strips, A, by inserting theirrespective tongues b into the slots a until the strips A and B join eachother at right angles, when the tongues 12 are pressed downward, and soadjusted as to allow both ends of the straight portion of the slots atto rest in the notches o c.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In an egg-carrier, the combination of the strips or partitions A,provided with the slots to, and tongues b I), provided with notches c c,with the strips B, provided with the slots or perforations a, formedwithin the body of the strip, tongue b, and notches c c, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

JOHN L. STEVENS.

Witnesses G. R. HOFFMAN, N. CoWLEs.

